JPH07272471A - Monitoring circuit for operating time of magnetic memory device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To monitor a magnetic or physical deterioration of a specific part of a magnetic memory medium thereby to take countermeasures beforehand against a break of a program or data resulting from the partial deterioration. CONSTITUTION:When a hard disc apparatus 1 is started, a monitoring part 14 of the apparatus 1 reads an integral value of operating times for every sector number of a magnetic disc medium 11 recorded in a recording part 16. Upon receipt of a start signal from a controlling part 13, the monitoring part 14 calculates an operating time per one operation by means of clock signals from a clock-generating part 15, and adds the calculated value to the integral value of operating times of the sector number actually accessed to. Women the monitoring part 14 detects that the obtained integral value exceeds a preset value, the monitoring part 14 indicates an LED of a display part 3 to display the fact, and informs a requester via an interface part 2 that the integral value exceeds the set value and the sector number.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating time monitoring circuit for a magnetic storage device, and more particularly to a physical life monitoring system for a magnetic disk of a hard disk device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk device, the operating time of the drive system of the device such as the operating time of the drive motor and the number of operation / stoppages is integrated, and the mechanical operation is performed based on the integrated value. The physical life of the device itself is monitored by monitoring the limits.

In this case, when the integrated value exceeds a preset value, a light-emitting diode (LED), a lamp or the like indicates that the physical life has expired as an alarm.

JP-A-62-47865, P. 42
2 upper right column-P. In the upper left column of 423 (embodiment of the invention), the number of signals generated in proportion to the use time of the wear member (head, motor bearing, etc.) constituting the storage device is integrated and integrated. A technique for notifying when the number of the generated signals exceeds a predetermined number set based on the allowable use time of the wear member is described in detail.

[0005] In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-166067, P. In the upper right column to the lower right column of 498 (Example), the number of allowable starts and stops in the non-volatile memory is recorded as guarantee value data, the guarantee value data is checked at the time of start, and the guarantee value data at the time of stop. The techniques for updating are detailed.

[0006]

In the above-described conventional magnetic storage device, the mechanical deterioration of the drive system is monitored as a detection reference of the physical life of the device itself, and the magnetic deterioration and physical deterioration of the magnetic storage medium itself are monitored. Is not monitored for deterioration.

Observing how a user uses a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive, programs and data that are used on a daily basis are specified in the magnetic storage device. It is considered that the magnetic or physical deterioration of a specific portion of the magnetic storage medium progresses rather than using the entire storage medium.

Therefore, in the conventional system, since the deterioration of the entire magnetic storage device is monitored, there is a problem that the magnetic or physical deterioration of a specific portion of the magnetic storage medium cannot be monitored as described above. .

Further, in the conventional method, although it is possible to notify the deterioration of the entire magnetic storage device, it is not possible to notify which part of the magnetic storage medium has deteriorated. Although the data is destroyed, there is a problem that it is impossible to take measures against the destruction in advance such as saving the program and data.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to monitor the magnetic or physical deterioration of a specific portion of a magnetic storage medium, and to prevent the destruction of programs and data due to the partial deterioration. On the other hand, it is an object of the present invention to provide an operating time monitoring circuit of a magnetic storage device that can take measures in advance.

[0011]

An operating time monitoring circuit for a magnetic storage device according to the present invention is an operating time monitoring circuit for a magnetic storage device in which a head member writes / reads stored information to / from a magnetic storage medium. Accumulation means for accumulating the access time for each access unit of the storage medium, storage means for storing the integration result of the accumulation means, and it is determined whether or not the content of the storage means exceeds a preset predetermined time. The determination means and the notification means for notifying the determination content to the outside when the determination means determines that the content of the storage means exceeds the predetermined time.

[0012]

When the monitoring means of the hard disk device is activated, it reads the monitoring results recorded for each sector number of the magnetic disk medium recorded in the recording means, and accesses the sector for each sector number of the magnetic disk medium. Monitor.

When the monitoring means receives the operation start signal indicating the access to the sector from the control means, the operating time is calculated for each operation by the clock signal from the clock generating means,
The calculated value is added to the operating time integrated value of the sector No that was actually accessed.

The monitoring means determines whether or not the calculated operating time integrated value exceeds a preset set value.
When the monitoring means determines that the operating time integrated value exceeds the set value, the monitoring means displays an LED and notifies the requester of the operating time integrated value exceeding the set value and the sector number thereof.

As a result, it is possible to monitor the magnetic or physical deterioration of a specific portion of the magnetic disk medium, and it is possible to monitor in a form suitable for the actual usage. Further, it becomes possible to save the data and the program on the request source side, and it is possible to take measures against the destruction of the program and the data due to the partial deterioration thereof.

[0016]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a hard disk device 1 includes a magnetic disk medium 11, a drive unit 12, a control unit 13, and a monitoring unit 14.
And a clock generator 15 and a recorder 16.

Further, the hard disk device 1 is provided with an interface unit 2 for communicating with a host device (not shown) and a display unit 3 for displaying the monitoring result of the monitoring unit 14.

The magnetic disk medium 11 is a storage medium,
The drive unit 12 includes a drive motor (not shown) for driving the magnetic disk medium 11 and a head member (not shown) for writing and reading data to and from the magnetic disk medium 11.

The control unit 13 communicates with the host device via the interface unit 2 and controls the entire device. The monitoring unit 14 monitors the operating time of the device, that is, the access time for each access unit of the magnetic disk medium 11, based on the clock signal generated by the clock generation unit 15. The monitoring result of the monitoring unit 14 is recorded in the recording unit 16 and displayed on the display unit 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing access units (sectors) on the magnetic disk medium 11 of FIG. In the figure, a plurality of sectors 11a, which are access units, are arranged on the magnetic disk medium 11.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the recording unit 16 shown in FIG. In the figure, the recording unit 16 includes a magnetic disk medium 1
An area 16a for recording a sector No. identifying one sector 11a and an area 16b for recording an operating time (access time) corresponding to the sector No. are provided.

For example, in the sector No. “0001”, the operating time “xxxx” corresponding thereto is recorded, and the sector N
o "0002" is the corresponding operating time "yyy
y ”is recorded.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operating time monitoring process according to an embodiment of the present invention. An operation time monitoring process according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the hard disk device 1 is started, the monitoring unit 14 reads the cumulative operating time value of each sector 11a of the magnetic disk medium 11 recorded in the recording unit 16 (step S1 in FIG. 4). After that, the monitoring unit 14 waits for the input of the operation start signal from the control unit 13 (step S2 in FIG. 4).

When the control unit 13 receives a data write / read execution command from the host device, it outputs an operation start signal to the monitoring unit 14 when driving the drive unit 12 to operate the device. It is assumed that the actually accessed sector number is notified to the monitoring unit 14 and an operation end signal is output to the monitoring unit 14 when the operation of the device is ended.

When the monitoring unit 14 receives the operation start signal from the control unit 13, it calculates the operating time per operation with the clock signal from the clock generation unit 15 until it receives the operation end signal from the control unit 13, and the calculated value Is added to the operating time integrated value of the sector No of the actually accessed sector 11a (step S3 in FIG. 4).

Next, the monitoring unit 14 determines whether the calculated operating time integrated value exceeds a preset value (step S4 in FIG. 4). If the operating time integrated value exceeds the set value, In addition to displaying the LED on the display unit 3, the request source of the execution instruction of the data write / read is notified via the interface unit 2 that the integrated value of the operating time exceeds the set value and its sector number (step S5 in FIG. 4). .

On the other hand, if the calculated operating time integrated value does not exceed the set value, the monitoring unit 14 stores the operating time integrated value in the recording unit 16 (step S6 in FIG. 4), and step S6.
Return to processing of 1.

In the above description, the monitoring of the magnetic or physical deterioration of the magnetic disk medium in the hard disk device has been described, but it is also applicable to the floppy disk medium using the magnetic disk medium. In this case, it is possible to monitor each floppy disk medium by providing an area for storing the operating time integrated value in the floppy disk medium.

Further, although the monitoring target, that is, the access unit is a sector, the access unit may be a specific area including a plurality of sectors. In this case, by setting the specific area, the capacity of the storage unit that stores the operating time integrated value can be reduced.

In this way, when the magnetic disk medium 11 is accessed under the control of the control unit 13, the monitoring unit 14 integrates the operating time for each access unit (sector) and the storage unit 1
By storing the data in No. 6, it is possible to monitor the magnetic or physical deterioration of a specific portion of the magnetic disk medium 11, and it is possible to monitor in a form suitable for the actual usage.

When the integrated value of operating time exceeds the set value, LED display is made on the display unit 3, and the integrated value of operating time indicates the set value to the request source of the execution instruction of the data writing / reading through the interface unit 2. By notifying that the data has exceeded the sector number and the sector number, it becomes possible to save the data and program on the request source side, and it is possible to take measures against the destruction of the program and data due to the partial deterioration. Become.

The present invention can further have the following aspects in connection with the description of the claims.

(1) An operating time monitoring circuit of a floppy disk device for writing / reading stored information to / from a floppy disk, wherein: an integrating means for accumulating the access time for each access unit of the floppy disk; Storage means for storing the integration result of the means, judgment means for judging whether or not the content of the storage means exceeds a predetermined time set in advance, and the content of the storage means for the judgment means exceeds the predetermined time. And a notification means for notifying the outside of the content of the determination when it is determined that the operating time monitoring circuit.

(2) An operating time monitoring circuit of a floppy disk device for writing / reading stored information to / from a floppy disk, and integrating means for accumulating the access time for each sector unit which is the access unit of the floppy disk. A storage unit for storing the integration result of the integration unit; a determination unit for determining whether or not the content of the storage unit exceeds a predetermined time set in advance; and a content of the storage unit by the determination unit. An operating time monitoring circuit, comprising: a notification unit that notifies the outside of the determination content when it is determined that the predetermined time has been exceeded.

(3) An operating time monitoring circuit of a floppy disk device for writing / reading stored information to / from a floppy disk, said integrating means for integrating the access time for each access unit of said floppy disk, and said integrating means. A non-volatile memory for storing the integration result of the means, a judging means for judging whether or not the contents of the non-volatile memory have exceeded a predetermined time set in advance, and the judgment means for judging the contents of the non-volatile memory by the predetermined value. An operating time monitoring circuit, comprising: a notification means for notifying the outside of the determination content when it is determined that the time has been exceeded.

(4) An operating time monitoring circuit of a floppy disk device for writing / reading stored information to / from a floppy disk, and integrating means for accumulating the access time for each sector unit which is the access unit of the floppy disk. A non-volatile memory for storing the integration result of the integration means, a determination means for determining whether or not the content of the non-volatile memory exceeds a preset predetermined time, and the determination means for storing the non-volatile memory An operating time monitoring circuit, comprising: a notifying unit for notifying the outside of the determination content when it is determined that the content exceeds the predetermined time.

(5) An operating time monitoring circuit of a floppy disk device for writing / reading stored information to / from a floppy disk, said integrating means for integrating the access time for each access unit of said floppy disk, and said integrating means. Storage means for storing the integration result of the means, judgment means for judging whether or not the content of the storage means exceeds a predetermined time set in advance, and the content of the storage means for the judgment means exceeds the predetermined time. An operating time monitoring circuit comprising: a notification unit that notifies the outside of the determination content together with the information indicating the access unit.

(6) An operating time monitoring circuit of a floppy disk device for writing / reading stored information to / from a floppy disk, and integrating means for accumulating the access time for each sector unit which is the access unit of the floppy disk. A storage unit for storing the integration result of the integration unit; a determination unit for determining whether or not the content of the storage unit exceeds a predetermined time set in advance; and a content of the storage unit by the determination unit. An operating time monitoring circuit, comprising: a notification unit for externally notifying the determination content together with information indicating the sector unit when it is determined that the predetermined time has been exceeded.

(7) An operating time monitoring circuit of a floppy disk device for writing / reading stored information to / from a floppy disk, said integrating means for integrating the access time for each access unit of said floppy disk, and said integrating means. A non-volatile memory for storing the integration result of the means, a judging means for judging whether or not the contents of the non-volatile memory have exceeded a predetermined time set in advance, and the judgment means for judging the contents of the non-volatile memory by the predetermined value. An operating time monitoring circuit, comprising: a notification means for notifying the contents of the judgment together with information indicating the access unit to the outside when it is judged that the time has been exceeded.

(8) An operating time monitoring circuit of a floppy disk device for writing / reading stored information to / from a floppy disk, and integrating means for accumulating the access time for each sector unit which is the access unit of the floppy disk. A non-volatile memory for storing the integration result of the integration means, a determination means for determining whether or not the content of the non-volatile memory exceeds a preset predetermined time, and the determination means for storing the non-volatile memory An operating time monitoring circuit comprising: a notification means for notifying the determination content together with information indicating the sector unit to the outside when it is determined that the content exceeds the predetermined time.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, the access time of each access unit of the magnetic storage medium is accumulated and stored, and it is determined that the stored content has exceeded a preset predetermined time. Sometimes, by externally notifying the judgment contents, it is possible to monitor the magnetic or physical deterioration of a specific part of the magnetic storage medium, and take measures beforehand against the destruction of the program or data due to the partial deterioration. The effect is that it can be applied.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an access unit on the magnetic disk medium of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a recording unit in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operating time monitoring process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 hard disk device 2 interface section 3 display section 11 magnetic disk medium 12 drive section 13 control section 14 monitoring section 15 clock generation section 16 recording section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An operating time monitoring circuit of a magnetic storage device for writing / reading stored information to / from a magnetic storage medium by a head member, and integrating means for integrating the access time for each access unit of the magnetic storage medium, Storage means for storing the integration result of the integration means; determination means for determining whether or not the content of the storage means exceeds a preset predetermined time; and the content of the storage means by the determination means for the predetermined time An operating time monitoring circuit having a notifying means for notifying the outside of the contents of the judgment when it is judged that the time has exceeded. 2. The operating time monitoring circuit according to claim 1, wherein the integrating means is configured to integrate the access time of each sector of the magnetic storage medium. 3. The operating time monitoring circuit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage means comprises a non-volatile memory. 4. The notification means is configured to notify the determination content together with information indicating the access unit for each access unit for which the determination means determines that the content of the storage means has exceeded the predetermined time. The operating time monitoring circuit according to claim 1, wherein the operating time monitoring circuit is provided. 5. The operating time monitoring circuit according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic storage medium is a magnetic disk medium of a hard disk device.